Best Cities to live in The San Gabriel Valley
Let’s get it straight, if you live in the San Gabriel Valley, SGV, you are already lucky enough. The San Gabriel Valley is one of the most sought after residential areas to live in. There are many families that are unfortunately priced out of the SGV, but still choose to rent in the area because the neighborhoods are just that good. While there aren’t any inherintly ‘bad’ places to live in the SGV, there are definitely some stand out great places. Whether you are moving in from out of state or simply ready to make your first purchase, this is everything you’ll need to know about which cities you’ll want to check first!
Intro to the San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is culturally diverse region in the Eastern part of Los Angeles County. In total there are around 31 cities included in this area. The SGV is primarily known for it’s vibrant food culture, often showcasing a wide variety of traditional chinese and mexican cuisine. However this does not stop the SGV from serving food from all around the world. From authentic Indian curries to Mediterranean plates that teleport you to the middle East, the food is as good as it gets. SGV is also known for it’s convenience, being close to Los Angeles but still having access to Orange County, the mountains and proximity to the coast, the location is really what makes San Gabriel Valley stand out. All around it just is a really good place to raise a family and enjoy all there is to offer in Southern California. Because of this, the SGV is also extremely popular for tourist and travelers as a center point of exploring SoCal.
What Makes a City 'good'
There is a lot to consider when you are objectively judging cities by what they offer. It’s also almost unfair to judge a city by what it generally offers, when certain parts and neighborhoods of said city might actually be in much higher demand. In order to make this as fair as possible, I will definte the characteristics of a city as ‘good’ for the following criteria, schooling, crime, and neighborhood. Schooling is the general scores of the highschool in the city. Crime is the amount of crime per capita, which tracks how many crimes are committed relative to the amount of people who live in a city. This is a great measurement because most cities are different in size, so the best way to measure crime is relative to the population. Finally I definte neighborhood as the amenities located at any point in the city. For example, if a city has a lot of shopping, food, and entertainment then it will rank very high. It doesn’t have to neccessarily be walkable to any house in the city, it just has to be in the city and reachable by car. I think this is the fairest and best way to rank every city to find the ‘best’ cities to live in the SGV. However keep in mind that every city has something different and unique to offer, this list is 100% biased and based off of what I consider to be a great city.
Best Cities in the SGV to live in Overall
While there isn’t any notable award of ‘best city’ that if officially declared, these are some of the most popular cities in the SGV based off of the rating system we made on the previous paragraph.
South Pasadena wins a spot because of it’s historical influence as well as its amenities. Extremely close to the 210 freeway and 10 freeway, this city provides easy access to Los Angeles and Burbank. However, the main focal point of Pasadena is a community within known as old town Pasadena. What feels like a mini an Urban city within a suburban city, Old Town Pasadena has everything to offer from classes, to educational institutions, to tons of walking & dining. Not to mention South Pasadena High school is one of the most prestigious schooling systems in the entire SGV. It ranks 60 in California, and in the top 500 in the USA. Homes in this city average around $1.5M-$2M.
San Marino has everything a family could want, of course for the right price point of living. The schooling system, and most notably San Marino High, is ranked in the top 40 high schools in California. The neighborhoods are known for their wide tree-lined streets filled with homes on big lots. The community has a focus on pride of ownership and longstanding homeowners. What San Marino lacks in neighborhood/amenities, they make up for in location, low crime rates and schooling. The city lies right inbetween Arcadia, Pasadena, & San Gabriel, three of the major food hubs in the entire SGV. Homes in this city average around $3M, making it a premium area by all standards.
Finally the last city to win a spot is Arcadia. Known for it’s luxury properties, Arcadia is home to some of the best neighborhoods in the entire SGV, incredible schooling, and extremely low crime rate. Arcadia High School is one of the top 300 education institutions in the entire United States. Right next to the high school is Santa Anita Mall, a popular shopping plaza with tons of entertainment, shopping, and food options. However because of all these amenities, Arcadia has become an extremely expensive place to live, with homes often priced between $1M-$2M.
A trend you’ll start to notice is that homes in any city with great schooling, safe neighborhoods, and tons of amenities tend to be beyond expensive. That’s to be expected! Many of the residents inside of these cities took many years building up equities in their homes to purchase into the city. In fact many of the homeowners bought their home as their 2nd property. Very rarily are there buyers with enough cash to purchase into these cities as their first property.
FAQs
What are the Worst cities to Live in the SGV?
There are no specific worst cities to live in the SGV. There are only personal preferences as to what matters more to you as the homeowner/individual. If you prefer peace and quiet away from city life than maybe Monrovia may be a good fit for you. However if you like bustling nightlife then San Gabriel Village would be better for you. It’s all about what you prefer to be close to, and the SGV has just about everything to provide you with!
How expensive are homes in the SGV?
There is no statistical data to show just how expensive homes are in the SGV. However a rough estimate will reveal that most single family homes in the San Gabriel Valley are valued at or more than $1M. Condos & Townhouses are typically $750k or more. The San Gabriel Valley is not considered a cheap place to live, however the neighborhood is one where you want to live.
Is the San Gabriel Valley mainly Chinese?
While there is a diverse culture and population within the San Gabriel Valley, chinese and asian American make up a significant proportion of that population. It is by no means dominated or a vast majority, just a very large subsection. The San Gabriel Valley should not be defined by ethicity or race however, it is a beautiful area to visit and raise your family.
📍 Final Thoughts from a Local Realtor
At the end of the day it’s all about what you prefer for your family. One thing is for sure, the San Gabriel Valley has something to offer for everyone.
Have questions about specific neighborhoods, I’d love to help.
